Electromechanical selecting device.



No.*795,789. PATENTED JULY 25, 1905. a. P. ELLIOTT & A. e. cox. ELECTROMEGHANIGAL SELECTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION PILB D JUNE 10.1902.

\ 6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses v Irn/entar's Y W 73 -r l m 4641/ 077/, Afiur'neys No. 795,789. .PATENTED JULY 25, 1905. Q

R. P. ELLIOTT & A. G. COX.

ELEGTROM'EGHANIUAL SELECTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10.1902.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses Inventurs urn f W by Mcw Q @p, 4% WW A tturrzeys No. 795,789. PATENTED JULY 25, 1905.

R. ,P. ELLIOTT & A. G. 00X. BLEGTROMEGHANIGAL SELECTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10.1902.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Minesses a winvafllfcg'ffiw/ 4%, ad. f/ @ZZMW A fturr'rey5 No. 295,789. PATBNTED JULY 25, 1905. R. P. ELLIOTT & A. G. COX.

BLECTROMEGHANIGAL SELECTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION rnnn 1mm 10.1902.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4 dbo E] Inventor s Lk by m 40 a, $444. WM

No. 795,789 PATENTED JULY 25, 1905. R. P. ELLIOTT & A. G. 00X.

ELEGTROMEGHANIGAL SELECTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10.1902.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

HHHH IHIHHI W1iY1E55E5 Inventors k! bu W {9 y WW Afiurneys No. 795,789. PATENTED JULY 25, 1.905. R. P. ELLIOTT & A. G. COX. ELECTROMEGHANIGAL SELECTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10.1902.

\ e SHEETSSHET s.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

RICHARD P. ELLIOTT AND ANSON G. COX, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO SPENCER W. RICHARDSON AND RICHARD P. ELLIOTT,

TRUSTEES.

ELECTROMECHANICAL SELECTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July a5, 1905.

Application filed June 10,1902. serial No. 110,997.

To aZZ whom, it may concern,-

Be it known that we, RICHARD P. ELLIOTT and ANsoN G. Cox, of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Electromechanical Selecting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in electromechanical selecting devices in which certain mechanical selective elements are positioned by means of electrical magnets and thereafter an operating mechanism is operated to perform the work desired, such as the operation of a type-writer, linotype machine, and the like.

The objects of the invention are to provide a mechanism of few parts, simple in construction, and one which will afford the greatest number of selections for the parts employed. We attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of our improved device, showing it as applied to the key-lever of a type-writing machine to opcrate the same. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1, the key-levers being illustrated as broken short oif near the rear of the machine. Figs. 3 and 4 are front and rear views, respectively, of one-half of the selecting mechanism. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the electric. circuits and magnets employed in operating the selective mechanism, the lower portion oft-he figure showing also the mechanical selecting elements proper in relative position to their operatingmagnets. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a different and preferred form of our device. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a plan of one of the elevating-magnets.

In the various electrical and electromechanical selecting and actuating systems heretofore known some transmit the messages or signals by means of a perforated tape used in conjunction with devices which send to line varying current impulses, which impulses operate a receiving device at the receiving-station to reproduce a facsimile of the tape used at the sending-station. This second tape is used in connection with suitable mechanism to reproduce the message in prlnted form. This method of sending intelllgence requires a varying number of impulses produced by the closing and breaking of the line for each letter orcharacter in the message. In some systems of this class a tape is used at only one station. It will be noticed that in our system the part to be selected and operated is selected and operated by a single characteristic impulse sent over each main-line wire, which impulses are transmitted substantially at the sameinstant, and,finall y,the current employed in our device is a direct current. By reason of peculiarly-arranged local mechanisms and circuits, which are more fully described and are covered in application of Anson Gr. Cox, Serial No. 91,420, filed January 27, 1902, these single impulses are properly distributed to positively and unerringly select and cause the actuation of the desired part 'of the machine. This application, however, is intended to cover what may be designated as the receiving and actuating mechanism, which is directly connected with the line-wires and the machine which it is desired to operate.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views,

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,

upon a base A are mounted the frames A,

one at each side of the machine and joined together by means of cross-bars a Between these frames are mounted the magnets E, provided with the armature-arms E for operating the stop-bars. E These bars E are mounted between pins a, which are inserted in supports (0 upon the frames A. An armature-arm E is pivoted to each of these bars at convenient points. The upper edges of the stop-bars E are provided with stops 6', as shown in Fig. 5, and said bars are also held in normal retracted position by means of springs 0. (Shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 7.) At the rear of the frames A are mounted a series of hell-crank selecting-levers B, having one arm extending horizontally forward above the stop-bars E Guide-pins a are mounted upon the cross-bar a of the frames A and serve to guide the forward ends of the hori- 1 Zontal arms of the levers B. Also springs b are provided, which normally tend to depress the horizontal portions of the bell-crank levers B. The vertical portions of these bellcrank levers are connected, by means of links B pivoted at their upper ends at 6 to the actuating-bars C,which are preferably suspended near the rear ends of the key-levers D. Beneath the horizontal arms of the selectinglevers B are mounted cross-bars F upon sets of armatures F F upon each side of the machine. These bars F and the armatures F are normally held in elevated position by means of the springs (6 which are attached at a upon brackets (4 mounted upon upward extensions A of the frames A. These armatures F are pivotally mounted in frames F at f immediately above magnets F. armatures F are also provided with lugs f having set-screws f to form stops for the upward movement of said armatures. Also on the armatures F are lugs f upon which are mounted spring-arms f At the upper end of these spring-arms are mounted contact-plates,f" being insulated from the springarms f in any desired manneras, for instance, by insulating-strips f Upon upward extensions F*of the frames Fare mounted brackets F and depending from the outer extremities of these brackets is asupportingplate f provided with insulating material f, in which are mounted the contact-screws f to which screws may be attached the wires for forming the necessary circuits hereinafter described. Adjacent to the frames F are similar frames G, in which armatures G are pivotally mounted immediately over the magnets Gr. These armatures are connected by means of a cross-bar G the lower edge of which is normally held just above and out of the path of hooks a, formed upon the lower extremity of the actuating-bars C. These armatures G are held suspended by means of springs g in the same manner as in the case of the armatures F and stops 9 are also provided for the armatures G It will be noticed in Fig. 2 that the actuating device as a whole is divided into two parts longitudinally; so that there are two sets of magnets F and G, together with their actuated armatures and cross-bars F and G respectively. 1

This is the preferable construction, although it will readily be seen that single bars F and Gr may be used, extending entirely across the 1 machine.

Referring to the structure and arrangement of the magnets E and stop-bars E and their cooperating mechanism, the magnets E are similar in construction, all .being provided with similar armatures E, which are adapted to engage and move the stop-bars E The stop-bars E are similar in every respect except as to the location of the stops 6. These stops 6 are distributed along the stop-bar E v in such manner as to bring one or more stops 0 on one or more of the stop-bars E under the horizontal portion of each of the selectinglevers B or the actuating-bars C (shown in Figs. 6 and 7) when said stop-bars are in their normal position. When, however, the proper circuits through magnets E are closed, the magnets selected will operate their armatures Theand move one or more of the stop-bars E thereby moving the stops 6 from beneath a predetermined one of the horizontal arms B, leaving a clear passage for it to drop until the operating means connected therewith are moved into operative position.

Before describing in detail the arrangement of circuits illustrated in Fig. 5 a gen eral description of the operation of the machine will be given.

As just stated, the first operation which takes place is the movement of the bars E opening up a clear passage beneath one of the bell-crank levers B. Thereupon the armatu res F upon one side of the machine are attracted by the magnets F, thereby depressing one of the supporting cross-bars F. This depression of the crossbar F leaves the horizontal arm of the previously-selected bell-crank lever B free to drop into the passage left by the movement of the selecting-bars E and said horizontal arm is actuated by its spring 6. This movement of the bell-crank lever B draws a corresponding actuating-bar C forward by means-of the link B and thereby brings its hook 0 beneath one of the crossbars G Simultaneously with the depression of the armature F the contact-plate f mounted thereon, is brought against the contact-screws f thereby completing a circuit through these screws, which circuit energizes the magnets G. By this means the armatu res G are depressed and cause their cross-bar G to contact with the hook of the actuating-bar C to draw down the same.

In the diagrammatic view, Fig. 5, a portion only of the selecting mechanism forming the subject-matter of application Serial No. 91,420, filed January 27, 1902, suflicient to illustrate the method of selecting and closing the local selective circuits is shown. For a better understanding of the operation of the mechanism herein described, however, the currents for a single operation of the machine will be traced. Upon the operation of a suitable keyboard or actuating means the parts are placed in the position shown in Fig. 5. A current is thereby completed from battery 1, wire 2, contact 4 of relay 3, contact 5, wire 6, armature 7,'contact 8, wires 9 10, relay E, wires 10, 11, 12, and 13, contact 14 of the relays X Y, contact 15, wire 16, magnet F, wires 18, 19, and 20, relay E, wires 21, 22, and 23, contact 24, armature 25, wire 26, contact 27 contact 28 on armature of relay 29, wire 30, back to battery 1. By following out this circuit it will be seen first that two of the relays E beneath the bars E have been actuated and their corresponding bars have been moved to the right, thereby opening a passage beneath the horizontal arm of hellcrank lever B shown therein. At the same time the current in its passage through magnet F has actuated the armature of said relay and brought its contact-plate f against the contact-pins f thereby completing a circuit through magnet G to the battery 34. In so doingarmature of relay G has been operated and its cross-bar G has been caused to actuate the previously-operated actuatingbar 0.

In the preferred form of our device illustrated in Fig. 6 we dispense with the intermediate mechanism B and connecting-rods B and so arrange the stop-bars E that they con: tact directly with the actuating-bars C. To accomplish this result, standards A are mounted on the base A, said standards being provided with rearwardly-extending arms A upon which are mounted supports a in which the guide-pins a are mounted; but in this instance the guide-pins project horizontally and thestop-bars E are arranged and slide between them, as shown. Also mounted upon the frame A are the magnets E, having'their armature-arms E connected with the stopbars E, as before described. Immediately below the actuating-bars C are mounted in the frames F sets of magnets F, having the armature-arms F joined by cross-bars F, as before described. These bars F are normally held to the rear by springs a and thereby draw the bars C out of engagement with the stop-bars E and against springs 0 Sets of magnets G are mounted adjacent the magnets F and are provided with armatures G pivoted at g in frames G, which frames are mounted on the base A. The outer extremities of the armatures G are joined by'cross-bars G, as before described, and the bars G are normally held in elevated position by means of springs 9 Stop-screws 9* are provided to limit the movement of the armatures G The operation of this mechanism is similar to that before described for the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. Upon the passing of the proper currents certain predetermined stopbars E are actuated and open up a passage for the movement of the actuating-bar C. At the same time the cross-bar F is actuated and allows the actuating-bars C to be drawn against the stop-bars E by means of their springs 0 One of these actuating-bars C will be drawn to the open path provided by the movement of the stop-bars E and thus the hook 0 of said actuating-bars C will be drawn beneath the end of the cross-bars G which is mounted upon armatures G actuated by magnets G, and thus the actuated member as, for instance, a key-lever D---will be moved.

Many changes in the structure and arrangement of the parts may be effected Without departing from the spirit of our invention.

What we claim is-- 1. In a selecting and actuating mechanism, selecting-bars; means for selecting and operating same; actuating-bars mounted adjacent said selecting-bars; means for moving said actuating-bars laterally and longitudinally to select and operate a given mechanism.

2. In a selecting and actuating mechanism, selecting-bars; means for selecting and operating same; actuating-bars mounted adjacent said selecting-bars; said actuating-bars capable of lateral and longitudinal movement; means to move said actuating-bars laterally; and means to move said actuating-bars longitudinally to select and operate parts of a given mechanism.

3. In a selecting and actuating mechanism, selecting-bars; means for selecting and operating same; actuating-bars mounted adjacent said selecting-bars, and controlled thereby; means cooperating with said selecting-bars to move said actuating-bars laterally and longitudinally to select and operate parts of a given mechanism.

4. In a selecting and actuating mechanism, selecting-bars; means to operate said selecting-bars; actuating-bars mounted adjacent to and controlled by said selecting-bars; means for moving said actuating-bars laterally; means for moving said actuating-bars longitudinally to select and operate the type-bars of a printing mechanism.

5. In a selecting and actuating mechanism, selectingbars; means for selecting and operating said bars; actuating-bars; means for moving said actuating-bars laterally in both directions in cooperation with said selectingbars, said actuating-bars arranged to move longitudinally, said lateral and longitudinal movements cooperating to actuate a given mechanism.

6. In a selecting and actuating mechanism, selecting-bars; means for operating said selecting-bars; actuating-bars; means for moving said actuating-bars laterally to select a movable part of a given mechanism; and means to move said actuating-bars longitudinally to operate a movable part of a given mechanism; and means to return said actuating and selecting bars to their normal position.

7. In a selecting and actuating mechanism, selecting-bars; means to select and move said bars; means to return said bars to their normal position; actuating-bars mounted to cooperate with said selecting-bars; means for moving said actuating-bars laterally and longitudinally, whereby the movable portion of a given mechanism is selected and operated.

8. In a selecting and actuating mechanism, selecting-bars; means to move said bars into position whereby they will cooperate to select a given actuating-bar; actuating-bars; means to move said actuating-barslaterally to select the operating part of a given mechanism; meansto move said actuating-bars longitudinally to actuate the operating part of a given mechanism; and means to move said actuating and selecting bars to their normal position.

9. In aselecting and actuating mechanism,

a plurality of selecting-bars; electrically-operated means for selecting, moving and magnetically holding one or more of said selecting-bars in operative position; springs for returning said selecting-bars to their normal position when the magnets operating same are demagnetized; a plurality of actuating-bars mounted adjacent said selecting-bars; means cooperating with said actuating-bars to operate the desired part of a machine.

10. In aselecting and actuating mechanism, a plurality of selecting-bars; means for selecting and operating any one or more of said selecting-bars as desired; a plurality of actuating-bars mounted adjacent said selecting-bars; and means whereby any one or more of said actuating-bars is moved laterally and longitudinally to select and operate a given machine.

11. In aselecting and actuating mechanism, a plurality of selecting-bars provided with stops; means to position said selecting-bars; a plurality of actuating-bars mounted normally opposite said stops; means cooperating with said stops to move said actuatingbars laterally; and means cooperating therewithto move said actuating-bars longitudinally; the said lateral and longitudinal movements of said actuating-bars cooperating to select and operate a given mechanism.

12. In aselecting and actuating mechanism, a plurality of selecting-bars, said selectingbars being formed with stops; means to move said bars into operative position; a plurality of actuating-bars pivotally mounted opposite said stops and adapted to engage and cooperate with the stops on said selecting bars; means for moving said actuating-bars laterally; and means to move said actuating-bars longitudinally, said lateral and longitudinal movements cooperating to select and operate a given mechanism.

.13. In an actuating mechanism, a plurality of selecting-bars; electrically-operated means to move said selecting-bars into a selective position; means to return said selecting-bars to a normal position; actuating-bars adjacent to and cooperating with said selecting-bars, said actuating-bars being attached to the mechan ism to be operated; means cooperating with said selecting-bars to move any one of said actuating-bars into operative position; and actuating means cooperating with said actuating-bars to operate the desired mechanism.

14. In an actuating mechanism, a plurality of electrically-operated selecting-bars; a plurality ot' actuating-bars, said actuating-bars arranged adjacent said selecting-bars and cooperating therewith to select any one of said actuating-bars; electrically-operated means cooperating with said selecting-bars for moving said actuating-bars into operative position; the part of a given mechanism to which said actuatingbars are pivoted; actuating means operating through the medium of said actuating-bars to operate the given mechan ism.

15. In an actuating mechanism, a plurality of actuating-bars pivoted to the mechanism to be operated; a plurality of selecting-bars mounted adjacent to and cooperating with said actuating-bars; magnets; armatures for said magnets, the ends of which are attached to said selecting-bars; means for energizing said magnets to hold said selecting-bars in operative position while the armatures of said magnets are magnetically held to the poles thereof; springs for returning said selectingbars to their normal position; and means whereby any one of said actuating-bars will select and .operate the part of a given mechanism.

' 16. In a selecting and actuating mechanism, means consisting of an operating magnet and an armature therefor, for operating a plurality of the parts of a given mechanism; selecting-bars for selecting the part to be 0perated; means consisting of electromagnets and retracting-springs for operating said selectingbars; actuating-bars pivoted to the moving parts of the mechanism to be operated, said actuating bars arranged to cooperate with said selecting-bars, whereby one of said actuating-bars is selected, moved laterally into position, and moved longitudinally by said operating-magnet to actuate the mechanism to which they are attached.

17. In a selecting and actuating mechanism, selective means consisting of selecting-bars and means for operating the same; actuating means consisting of actuating-bars and electromagnets provided with armatures cooperating with said selecting-bars to select a desired actuating-bar; and operating means consisting of electromagnets provided with armatures arranged to contact with said actuatingbars to move the same longitudinally; and the moving parts of a given mechanism to which said actuating-bars may be connected.

18. In an actuating mechanism, a plurality of actuatingbars; means for selecting any one of said actuating-bars and moving it into operative position; means for moving said actuating-bars longitudinally, tooperate the movable parts of the machine to which the actuating-bars are attached.

l9. Inaselecting and actuatingdevice, aplurality of local circuits; a source of electrical energy for same; magnets in said local circuits provided with means to select and operate any one or more selecting-bars; actuating-bars selected by said selecting-bars; means for positioning said actuating-bars; magnets in said local circuits the armatures of which contact with and move said actuating-bars longitudinally to actuate the part of a given mechanism to which they are attached.

20. In a selecting and actuating mechanism, selective means comprising a plurality of local circuits and means for selecting and closing.

any one or more of said local circuits; a plurality of selecting-bars; means in said local circuits for selecting and moving any one of said selecting-bars; a plurality of actuatingbars mounted adjacent said selecting-bars; and means whereby any one or more of said actuating-bars is moved into operative position to select the desired part of a mechanism; and means in said local circuits for moving said actuating-bars to operate the part of the mechanism selected.

21. In a selecting and actuating mechanism, a plurality of local circuits and means for selecting and closing any one or more of said local circuits; a plurality of selecting-bars; means in said local circuits for selecting and operating any one or more of said selectingbars; a plurality of actuating-bars pivoted to the mechanism to be operated and mounted adjacent said selecting-bars; means cooperating With said selecting-bars to move said actuating-bars into operative position; actuating means in said local circuits for moving said actuating-bars to operate a part of a mechanism selected.

22. In a selecting and actuating mechanism, a plurality of local circuits; a source of electrical energy to energize said local circuits; means for selecting and closing a plurality of said loealcircuits; magnets in said local circuits; armatures for said magnets; a plurality of selecting-bars being so arranged that the armatures will move them into operative position and hold them in said position While a current is flowing in the local currents; and springs to return the selecting-bars to their normal position.

23. In a selecting and actuating mechanism, a plurality of local circuits; a source of electrical energy for same; means for selecting a plurality of said local circuits; a plurality of selecting-bars; means in said local circuits to magnetically move and hold said selectingbars in operative position during the period of flow of electrical current in said local circuit; springs for returning said selecting-bars to their normal position; actuating-bars attached to the mechanism to be operated and positioned adjacent said selecting-bars; said actuating-bars adapted to cooperate with said selecting-bars; means cooperating with said selecting-bars to select any one or more of said actuating-bars; and means cooperating With the actuating-bars to move the mechanism to be operated.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands, in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses, this ninth day of June, A. D. 1902.

RICHARD P. ELLIOTT. ANSON G. COX. In presence of ROBERT WALCOTT, WM. J. ELLIOTT. 

